IT WOULD be fair to say that the Citroën C3 looks better than it drives. While it isn’t quite love at first sight this French fancy is an eye-catcher.

The unique shape of new C3 sets itself apart with a charismatic front face and generous curves which give it a powerful and energetic stance. Its smooth lines, its graphic signature and its colours make it a trendy option if you are looking for a city car. With the new C3, free yourself and go with today’s trends!

One of many standout features of the C3 are The Airbump® panels (air-filled bumps with a scratch-proof surface, as seen on C4 Cactus) are a Citroën signature feature, offering personality and style, as well as protecting the vehicle. The thermoplastic polyurethane material used in the Airbump® panels resists everyday degradation, protecting them from sunlight, water, scratches and more. Each panel positions a line of air-filled bumps at the bottom of the doors to protect the most vulnerable areas of the car in the urban environment. The Airbump® panels also have a white or red graphic motif, depending on the version.

The new C3 also has a wide range of colours to pick from: Almond Green, Cobalt Blue, Shark Grey, Arctic Steel, Ruby Red, Perla Nera Black, Orange Power or Soft Sand. My Polar White test drive was stunning when the sun was out and drew many a telling nod.

So what was the car like to drive? It provides enough pace for pottering around town, but escape the urban sprawl and with only 81bhp it starts to feel a bit pedestrian, especially when getting up to 70mph on the motorway. Once there, however, it happily maintains speed without complaint.

Inside the C3 is adequate and nothing more. There is a minimalist design, but it’s also due to the liberal use of hard recycled plastics that feel cheap.

You get standard seat height and steering wheel rake and reach adjustment it’s really easy to get comfortable, and there’s enough space in the front for that still to apply if you’re tall. You also get lots of storage, with big door pockets, a large glovebox and a couple of cup holders.

The new Citroen C3 is competent rather than providing a genuine wow factor.

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Posted on: 16/04/2017 09:55 PM

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